About Us

Needham Bible Chapel
History
In the late nineteen forties, perhaps 1949-1950 John Rupp of Altoona, Pennsylvania came to Choctaw County Alabama as a Southern Baptist Missionary. He preached to a number of small Baptist groups in the Choctaw County area, one of which was “Big Springs” in the old Turnertown Community west of Needham. Several Turner families were a part of this group; some of which continue to be active in the Bible Chapel today.
Around 1950 some of the Turners, along with John Rupp left the Baptist and began to meet in homes. They took to meeting in various homes in the Turnertown Community and soon were growing under Rupp’s leadership. Along about the time they were getting established, another man from Pennsylvania, Nate Taylor had arrived in Gallion, Alabama, just north of Linden and began meeting for Bible Studies in the “Old Spring Hill School.” The Coats family was instrumental in these meetings, and soon folks were saved and accepted the teachings of true “New Testament Church Principles of Gathering,” and became interested in establishing a meeting following these teachings. These meetings actually began in the home of Herschner and Earlene Coats. 
In time, Nate Taylor invited John Rupp and the folks from Turnertown to attend a Thanksgiving Conference being held at Gallion. From this meeting Bro. E. G. Matthews of Waterloo, Iowa contacted William O. (Bill) Walker and Vernon Schlief of Belle Chasse, Louisiana, asking them to come and help these few believers. They immediately came, began to help with Bible Studies at Gallion and Needham. Soon both these groups were well established in following New Testament Principles of gathering.
They came to Turnertown, they sat up benches in folks yards for Bible teaching, vacation Bible School and various other opportunities to be involved. People were saved, and soon there was interest in building a meeting house. Some of the men and their families involved were James (Floyd) Turner, George Turner, Charlie D. (Charlie) Turner, and James A. (Jimmy) Bethany. Soon, two local New Testament Churches; one in Gallion, the other in Turnertown were established and growing. Both continue unto this day; they are not large groups, but continue to have a faithful testimony for the Lord Jesus.
Juanita Turner, George’s daughter-in-law, Eldridge (Jabo) Turner, George’s son, his wife Dorothy and members of their family are active in this assembly today. Many wonderful Bible Teachers; E.G. Matthews, Vernon Schlief, Bill Walker, T.B. Gilbert, John Rupp, Raymond Swales, along with many others have come our way to help in teaching and encouragement. To all these, along with the faithfulness of the charter families we are forever grateful. May God reward them for their labors.
In 1951 plans were made for the construction of a building for the Saints to meet in at Turnertown. Charlie Turner, Floyd Turner and Jimmy Bethany’s names appear on the original deed for this building. I think we might say they were the Charter  Elders of this work. Charlie and Nettie donated a small piece of land, George Turner, Nettie’s brother furnished the lumber, and with the help of all concerned a building was erected in 1952. It was called, Bible Chapel. The work went well for a while, but events unknown to me took John Rupp from this area, he went to McComb, Mississippi, later to be reunited with the Independent Baptist as a pastor. The work in Turnertown was left in the care of Charlie and Floyd. They faithfully carried on until the late 1960’s when upon the suggestion of John Rupp, then in New Port Richey, Florida sent a man named Raymond Swales to Turnertown to have some gospel meetings at the old Chapel building. It is a story of real revival; old saints returned, re-committed themselves to Biblical Truth, several people (including myself and my wife) were saved and added to the group. Jack Bonner, his wife Clara, Jack Turner, Susie Todd, Ben Lewis, his wife Pearl along with many others were saved, baptized and came into fellowship, it was exciting times for us all. The little Chapel building filled up, so that in the early 1980’s we decided we had to build a larger building.
Plans were made, land was acquired about six miles down the road, and soon a new building was under construction. The group formed a (not for profit) corporation called Needham Gospel Center for the purpose of operating “Bible Chapel” an independent, non-denominational local New Testament Assembly. In 1984 we moved into the facility, and continue there today at 2497 New Hope Road, Needham, Alabama. The assemblies oversight consist of two men; Billy J. Bonner Sr., and James E. Bonner Sr. We are not large in number, but love the Lord Jesus, and meet only in His Name.
Through this medium we would like to invite you to visit us, check us out, search the scriptures to see if the things we teach are so.

Written by James Bonner
September 27, 1998
Revised April 4, 2006